Temple thread cutter for looms



April 1953 E. c. NICHOLS 2,635,647

TEMPLE THREAD CUTTER FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 16, 1950 INVEN TOR. [DWARD C. lV/CHOL5 ATTOPNE Y Patented Apr. 21, 1953 TEDIPLE THREAD CUTTER FOR LOOMS Edward C. Nichols, Upton, Mass., assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., at corporation of Maine Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 195,943

This invention pertains to improvements in the combination of a temple, temple mounting means and a temple thread cutter, and also to a novel thread cutter per se.

It is a general object of the invention to improve temple thread cutters by simplifying them, by rendering their action more positive and the entire mechanism more trouble-free and longlived, and at the same time, to devise such a cutter and temple supporting combination that the out ends of thread left extending from the selvage of the fabric shall be as short as possible, and more preferably, shall be cut so close to the edge of the fabric that there is no longer any necessity for trimming the edges as has heretofore been required in many instances.

It is a more specific object of the invention to devise a temple thread cutter and temple mounting combination in which the mounting by which the temple itself is supported and upon which it moves incidental to the beat up function of the lay shall not be interposed between the edge of the fabric and the cutting blades of the temple thread cutter itself. 7

It is a further and more specific object of the invention togdevise a temple thread cutter of simple form, which shall be readily assembled and installed and which shall have provision for initial or other adjustment, but in which there shall be no likelihood that the parts may to be carried by the temple and have to function filling supply, or between successive transfers of filling, the cutting function must be a positive need further attention during a long period of use. 7 7

It is a further object of the invention to devise a temple thread cutter in which the only working parts or the only possibility of wear in the cutter mechanism shall be confined to the cutter blades themselves and further, to provide a bearing for the movable part of the mechanism which shall also function to bias the cutter toward its open position and to provide that pressure between the cutter elements necessary to the realization of dependable operation one when it is required, and the cutter therefore must be very dependable in its nature. Further more, these cutters, while they do not actually out a thread very frequently, are caused to go through the cutting cycle once at each pick since they areactuated by contact with a part of the lay mechanism as the same moves forwardly to beat-up position. Thus While the temple thread cutter operates more or less idly throughout the vast portion of the weaving cycle, it must con-1 form to fairly rigid specifications and its design is further circumscribed since these projecting threads are more desirably cut as close to the selvage as is practicable. According to previous practice, the design and action of the selvage thread cutters has always necessitated leaving an end about long or more, and in many instances these threads which extend at intervals from the selvage of the fabric are necessarily removed later in order to improve the general quality or appearance of the finished product. In many mills weaving finer qualities of material the cutting'or removal of these ends involves considerable expense since it is a hand operation. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the cutter, temple and temple mount! ing combination is characterized by a mounting of the temple carrying arms and the interconnection between the temple structure itself and such supporting arms at a level below the fabric so that as the fabric emerges from the temple, it need not be guided, or the temple mechanism need not be so designed, that the selvage' will be spaced from the cutting mechanism by an appreciable distance dependent upon the mini mum width necessary for the temple mounting or supporting arms as has heretofore been necessary. L The cutter itself is preferably of a type em ploying shear blades one of which is relatively fixed and the other of which is movable with respect thereto and which is carried by a pivoting spindle or the like mounted in a resilient rubber or rubber-like bushing which is adjustably clamped within a supporting structure attachable to the temple or to the temple carrying means and which also serves the additional functions of biasing themovable blade to open position and also of pressing that blade into cutting contact with the first mentioned or relatively stationary blade member. For realizing these desired results, the bushing on which the cutter is movable is thus adjustable both axially and angularly and may be rigidly clamped in a set or adjusted position.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to one particular embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a temple; temple mount ing arm and the interconnecting means incidental thereto and of a temple thread cutter applied to said temple in'accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the mechanism.

of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a section taken at line 3- -3, Fig.1, and showing the cutter in open position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the cutter closed.

Fig. 5 is a section taken at line 5-5, Fig. 1, showing the elastic rubber bushing upon which the'movable cutter members are carried.

Now referring to Figs. 1- and 2, the temple illustrated comprises among other parts, a framework or casing sometimes referred to as a pod and generally indicated by numeral it, it being understood that the actual temple structure itself may take a variety of forms and may function according to difierent principles already well established. Here the temple is of the rotary type having rolls H and I2 which are covered with rubber or similar material, although the same may be of the type'having projecting pins arranged in helical form, or, in fact, may comprise any other type of roller suitable for the purpose. The temple pod structure involves an upper member l3 and a lower member i4, these being adjustable relatively to each other by means of a clamping screw or bolt is which passes through a vertically disposed slot in the downwardly projecting lug or extension it of the upper member l3 and is threaded into the lower casing member l4 all as illustrated in Figs. 1-4. This adjustment provides for varying theaction of the temple since the rollers H and I2 may be made to approach moreclosely to the lower casing member and to grip the fabric more effectively, this all being -something well under stood by those skilled in the art and therefore not necessary of further description here. I

The temple itself is provided for attachment to the support upon which it may translate or oscillate, as the case may be, this attaching means comprising a rearwardly extending bracket I! provided with a pad i8 which attaches to a complementary pad !9 which is positioned at the upper end of a downwardly extending arm 20, Fig. 2, and which is preferably pivoted in some suitable manner to a bearing member upon which it may oscillate. This bearing is positioned below the fabric level and biased in a direction to return the temples to their normal positionafter being moved slightly in a forward 'direction as the lay beats up. Although the mounting means preferred to be employed is that illustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 194,683 filed November 8, 1950, it is quite possible that other temple supporting means in accordance with the prior art may be employed since the actual details of such mechanism are not absolutelyfixed and may take varying forms so long as the mounting is below the "fabric "level and so long as the extension I! and pads l8 and 89 which terminate the upper portion of the temple supporting means are below the level of the fabric so that fabric may not, as it passes through the temple rolls and into and from the casing or pod i0, contact the mounting structure in any manner. In fact, the fabric here actually passes above these elements and is caused to as-' sume a definite lateral position insofar as its selvage is concerned by the guiding abutment or shoulder indicated by numeral 21, Fig. 1, so that the cutter may be positioned as close to that fabricselvage as is possible, it being a fact that the limiting factor involves nothing beyond providing an element of safety so that the actual cutting of the projecting ends may not damage .the adjacent edge .22.of the fabric.

The top part [3 of the casing is cut away to provide a more or less rectangular space above the lower extending shelf 23 of the casing part it for the reception of the cutter. The cutter is mounted within abase member 24 which is so formed as to provide a bearing for the bushing within which the movable cutter parts are supported. This member is also of split construction as illustrated in Fig. 5 so as to clamp that bushing in adjusted position. Thefixed blade 25 is provided with an angular extension 26 by means of which it is attached to the base member 24, said attaching means comprising a screw or bolt 2'3 which passes through a slot in the extension 25 and is threaded into the base mem her. This connection provides a certain amount of lateral adjustment for the blade 25.

The movable cutter blade 281s carried at the end of a short spindle 29 which is supported within a bushing presently to be described, this spindle having rigidly attached atone end a disk 30 slotted at 3| for the reception of an angularly bent end 32 of the blade 28,- this blade also being held to the outer faceof the diskby a s'c'rew3 3. The angular projection 32 and the screw 33 maintain the cutter blade in position so that angular movements of the spindle 29 effect similar cutting strokes of the blade which is also pressed against blade 25 in a manner hereinafter to be described.

An arm 34 is fixedly'atta'chedat the outer or oppositeend of spindle 29, this arm being split and having a clamping attachment to the spindle as illustrated and extending rearwardly and downwardly to present a contact surface 35 which is engaged by the lay 38 or 'aleather or fibre pad 3'! which maybe attached at the face thereof.

Base member 24 is attached to ledge "2-3 'by' a downwardly extending screw 38' which passes through a counterbored hole drilled in the-split portion 'of the base member-and serves the dual function of clamping the bushing as well as at taching the-entire cutter assembly to the temple. It is thus evident that the "cutter mechanis'm constitutes a unitary subassembly'which may be attached or detached without disturbing "other parts or functions and isfirmly held in position by a 'sii'iglescrew. I The spindlezs ismaintained within a-beari'ng which comprises a resilient rubber, or-rubberlike, bushingof any suitable natureisuch as are available at the present time. Preferably, as herein illustrated, that spindle is bonded'or'otherwise suitably fixed to a rubber annulus orbush ing 39,'Fig. 5, which'is'in turn bonded orsuitably retained against movement within an oute'rcylin drical shell 46. His this she ll'fiilwhich is clamped thebase mefnbrfl and by-museum's stasis screw 38 and rotating the shell and, of course, the

bushing 39 simultaneously therewith, the angular position thereof and also the axial adjustment may be varied after which the parts may be locked in position by tightening down on screw 38. As the parts are initially set up, a certain amount of torsional resistance is imposed upon bushing 39 so that the movable blade 28 is always biased in the direction of opening, Fig. 3. That blade is stopped against the upper lip 4| of the base member which actually overhangs the blade, the amount of torsion which the rubber bushing is to exert at that time being in the nature of a preloading thereof which always assures proper recovery of the parts after a cutting movement and maintenance of the parts in open position except as the blades are intended to be closed.

Axial adjustment of the bushing provides for pushing to the right, Figs. 1 and 2, on the shaft 29 so that blade 28 will be resiliently urged against the fixed blade thereby to assure proper cutting or shearing action thereof.

' At each time the lay moves forwardly, the buffer 3'3 or other appropriate part thereof is brought into contact with the cam portion or free end 35 of the arm 3L1 thereby moving it from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, or in other words, throughout a sufficient angular extent to close the shear and to effect cutting of a thread in the event one happens to be within the range of the cutter. It is to be understood that this cutting action takes place at every beat-up movement of the lay, but that the outwardly projecting threads '1, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 1, move forwardly as the fabric is taken up and enter the open blades whereupon they are severed at the next beat-up.

While in the prior art constructions, as shown in Douglas Patent 1,893,734, the fabric edge must be separated from the cutter by at least the width of a supporting arm, the cutter may be set here so that it cuts the threads leaving ends so short there is no need to trim the fabric later. The cutter is, in fact, set as close as possible without incurring danger of cutting into the fabric selvage itself.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. The invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom the combination of a temple and a supporting arm therefor which is disposed below the fabric level, and a temple thread cutter adjustably fixed to said temple and comprising a fixed cutter blade, a movable cutter blade and an actuating means by which said blade is moved to effect cutting of a thread extending from the selvage of a fabric passing through said temple, and a pivot and bearing upon which said movable blade and actuating means are operatively supported and resiliently urged toward an inactive or open position comprising an elastic, preloaded, torsion member and clamping means by which said member is adjustably maintained in any desired position.

2. In a 100111 the combination of a temple and a supporting arm therefor which is disposed below the fabric level, and a temple thread cutter adjustably fixed to said temple and comprising a fixed cutter blade, a movable cutter blade and an actuating means by which said blade is moved to effect cutting of a thread extending from the selvage of a fabric passing through said temple, and a pivot and bearing upon which said movable blade and actuating means are operatively supported and resiliently urged toward an inactive or open position comprising a central spindle, a rubber bushing bonded to said spindle, a sleeve bonded to the outer surface of said bushing and means by which said sleeve is clamped'and by which its axial and radial positions may be set to preload the rubber bushing.

3. In a loom the combination of a temple and a supporting arm therefor, said arm and the interconnecting means between it and the temple being disposed below the level of the fabric passing through said temple, and a temple thread cutter fixed to said temple and adapted to cut a thread extending from and adjacent the selvage of the fabric as it passes into the temple which comprises a clamping member, a relatively fixed cutter blade and means for adjustably attaching it to said member, a spindle and a bearing therefor which comprises an elastic rubber bushing bonded to the spindle and a sleeve bonded to the exterior surface of the bushing and clamped in said member, a relatively movable cutter blade carried at one end of said spindle and an actuating arm at the other end thereof, said clamping member serving to adjust the bushing so that its torsional resistance serves to bias the cutter to open position and also to press the movable blade into cutting engagement with the fixed blade.

4. For a loom, a temple thread cutter which comprises a base member for attachment to a temple, a relatively fixed cutter blade, a spindle having attached at one end a relatively movable cutter blade and at its other end an actuating arm, and a bearing for said spindle which comprises a resilient rubber annulus bonded between the said spindle and base member and so angularly fixed in position as to bias said movable cutter blade to an open position.

5. For a loom, a temple thread cutter which comprises a base member for attachment to a temple, a relatively fixed cutter blade, a spindle having attached at one end a relatively movable cutter blade and at its other end an actuating arm, and a bearing for said spindle which comprises a resilient rubber bushing bonded to the spindle, a metallic sleeve bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the said bushing and adjustably clamped in said base member, said sleeve and bushing and the parts carried thereby being movable axially for adjusting the pressure between the fixed and movable blades and also angularly for varying the torsional resistance in the bushing to bias the cutter to an open position.

6. For a loom, a temple thread cutter which comprises a base member for attachment to a temple, a relatively fixed cutter blade and means by which said blade is attached to the base member and by which it is adjustable to and from the selvage of a fabric passing through the temple, a spindle having attached at one end a relatively movable cutter blade and at its other end an actuating arm, and a bearing for said spindle which comprises a resilient rubber annulus bonded between the said spindle and base member and so angularly fixed in position as to bias said movable cutter blade to an open position.

7. For a loom, a temple thread cutter which comprises a supporting member, a relatively fixed cutter blade and a relatively movable cutter blade,

means by which said fixed blade is attached to the supporting member andmeans within which the movable blade is pivoted and by which it is also biased to open position and into cutting engagement with the fixed blade which includes a resilient rubber bushing adjustably restrained against relative movement within thesuppoftihg member and on the pivot means for the movab'le cutter blade.

8. In a loom the combination of a temple and a supporting arrn therefor which is disposed below the fabric level, said temple having upper and lower pod members a yertically disposed portion of which defines a fabricselvage guiding abutment, and a temple thread cutter carried by" an extending part of one of said temple pod members and means by which said thread cutter may be adjusted to and ram the edge of said fahiic as it is guided by said abutment, said adjustment being of a range such that the" extent of movement of the cutter toward the selvage is limited only by contact with the fabric selvag'e itself.

9; In a loom the combination of a temple and a supporting arni therefor which is disposed entirely below the fabric level, said temple having upperv and lower pod members a vertically disposed portidn afwme defines a fabric 'selvage iiidi'ii'g ahiitiiint located above and to the outer side of the lane of movement of said supporting arm, and a temple thread cutter carried by an iiteridirig part of one of said temple pod members and means oywnmn said thread cutter may be adjusted to aiid fi'dm the edge of Said fabric as it is guided by said abutment, said adjustment being of a range such that the extent of move fnent of the cutter toward the selija'ge is limited (may by contact with the fabric Sell/age itself.

EDWARD c. NICHOLS.

Referen es cited the fire of this atent UNITED STATES PATEi ff's 

